Kameron Junior Miners defeat Bulldogs for Sid Rowe Division title

The Kameron Junior Miners, in black, and the Antigonish Bulldogs shake hands after their game at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre on Tuesday. The Junior Miners posted a 3-2 win in Game 5 of the series to take the best-of-seven Sid Rowe Division championship, 4-1. - T.J. Colello

SYDNEY, N.S. — The Kameron Junior Miners claimed the Sid Rowe Division title on Tuesday with a 3-2 win over the Antigonish Bulldogs at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.

The Junior Miners won the best-of-seven series 4-1 in front of about 600 Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League fans.

They’ll face the East Hants Penguins, winners of the Fred Fox Division. The series opens on Easter weekend in East Hants. A full schedule has yet to be announced.

“It was a great series and a great game,” said Junior Miners head coach Ryan MacDougall. “We knew they were going to play us tough. They’re a never-give-up team. We had to work hard. We had a ton of bumps and bruises and they were very physical.

“I’m happy with the outcome and I’m happy with the way we played.”

After a scoreless first period, Mitchell Johnson opened the scoring on the power play in the second, firing the puck into a yawning cage after a nice passing play. Kelly Yates added to the lead just as another Bulldogs penalty expired, backhanding a shot past Antigonish netminder Charles Jensen.

Yates added to the lead with another power-play goal in the third, roofing the puck on the doorstep.

The Bulldogs would benefit from a 5-on-3 power play, however, and Connor Fraser got his team on the board. Blair Fraser then scored a short-handed marker through traffic to pull the visitors to within a goal.

Junior Miners netminder Levi Denny came up big down the stretch, denying Logan DeYoung point blank and flashing the leather on Devin MacLaughlin on another Bulldogs power play.

“I’m there for them, it’s my job to stop the puck,” said Denny, who finished with 32 stops. “It doesn’t matter if we’re short-handed or 5-on-3 for a whole period, it’s my job to stop the puck.”

Antigonish pulled Jensen for the extra attacker, but the host side weathered the storm. The Antigonish goaltender made 23 saves in the loss.